The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to release details of political associations that have been shortlisted for registration as political parties, following the conclusion of by-elections held across 12 states on Saturday, The PUNCH gathered on Sunday.
The commission, in a statement, confirmed ongoing preparations for the next phase of the registration process.
According to the INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, a dedicated portal has been created for party registration, and applications from various associations are currently under review.
Olumekun noted that the commission had already begun the shortlisting process for associations that meet the necessary requirements to proceed to the application stage.
He added that the names of those shortlisted will be disclosed following the conclusion of the 16 by-elections conducted on August 16.
“Meanwhile, having created the portal for party registration, the commission has commenced the shortlisting of the associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage.
“Details will be released immediately after the 16 by-elections in 12 States scheduled for Saturday, 16th August 2025,” Olumekun said.
INEC has received no fewer than 151 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.
However, the commission noted a number of irregularities in many of the submissions, ranging from incomplete information to violations of registration guidelines.
INEC had announced that it would assess all applications based on its legal and procedural requirements before granting or denying registration.
The commission had also stressed that each application will be carefully assessed in line with legal and procedural standards before registration can be approved or denied.
The list of some proposed party names includes a wide range of entities such as Key of Freedom Party, Absolute Congress, All Grassroot Party, Congress Action Party, United Social Democrats Party, National Action Congress, New Nigeria Congress, United People’s Victory Party, Allied Conservative Congress, Peoples Freedom Party, Abundant Social Party, All Nigeria’s Party, Citizens Party of Nigeria, National Freedom Party, Patriots Party, and Movement of the People.
Also included are Peoples National Congress, Alliance of Patriots, African Union Congress, Socialist Equality Party, About Nigeria Party, Africa Reformation Party, Accelerated Africa Development Association, Obedient People’s Party, Zonal Rescue Movement, Zuma Reform, Party for Socialist Transformation, Liberation Peoples Party, Progressive Obedient Party, and Great Nigeria Party.
Other submissions feature names such as National Youth Alliance, National Reform Party, Patriotic Congress Party, Community Alliance Party, Grassroots Alliance Party, Advance Nigeria Congress, All Nigerians Alliance, All Labour Party, Team New Nigeria, About All Nigeria, Nigeria Liberty Movement, National Democratic Party, and Citizen United Congress.
Additional proposed parties include All Gender Party, Polling Units Ambassadors of Nigeria, Village Intelligence Party, Great Transformation Party, Alliance Social Party, Nigeria Democratic Alliance, New National Democratic Party, Nourish Democratic Peoples Congress, All Youth Reclaim Party, Marina Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alliance Youth Party of Nigeria, The True Democrats, Democratic People’s Congress, National Democratic Movement, Economic Liberations Party, and Grassroot Ambassadors Party.
Other applications were filed under names such as All for All Congress, Peoples Democratic Alliance, United Youths Party of Nigeria, Peoples Liberations Party, Democratic Union for Progress, Citizen Democratic Alliance, Africa Action Group, Patriot Alliance Network, Democratic Leadership Party, Pink Political Party, Young Motivation and Awareness for Development Forum, Access Party, and Young Progressive Empowerment Initiative.
Further entries include the Republican Party of Nigeria, Sceptre Influence Party, Young Democratic Congress, Patriotic Nigeria Party, Far Right Party, Democratic Peoples Party, United Citizens Congress, Reset Nigeria, New Nigeria Democratic Party, Save Nigeria People Party, Above All, Alliance for Youth and Women, and Rebuild Nigeria Group.
The remainder of the proposed names comprises Citizens Progressive Party, Guardian Party, Abiding Greatness Party, Patriotic Party, Development and Freedom Party, Peace, Unity and Prosper Culture, The Populist, New Nigeria Leadership Party, All Allies Alliance, National Action Network, Coalition for Nigerian Democrats, Abundance Africa Alliance, Free Will Humanitarian Party, Peoples Emancipation Party, Peoples Liberations Congress Party, and Peoples Democratic Congress.
